Oslo, Seoul and Abu Dhabi are the top three capital cities in the world to have the fastest 5G download speed, according to a new report.
The Norwegian capital topped the charts with a median download speed of 526.7 megabits per second, according to Ookla, the company behind the popular Speedtest app that is used for gauging internet performance. It was followed by Seoul (467.8Mbps) and Abu Dhabi (421.3Mbps).
Other capital cities from the GCC region in the top 10 are Doha, Riyadh, Kuwait and Muscat, which ranked fourth, sixth, seventh, and eighth, respectively.
A 5G network has an internet speed of up to 1.2 gigabits per second, which will gradually evolve to 10Gbps – more than 100 times faster than 4G.
“5G is a huge leap forward and a powerful catalyst for digital transformation bringing new opportunities to various industries and the country,” said Majed Al Mesmar, director general of the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.
“This global achievement is a testimony to [the] UAE leadership’s vision and commitment in bringing the country to the forefront, taking a lead in the ICT [information and communications technology] sector while being the most advanced country in digital innovation,” he said.
In May 2019, Etisalat – the UAE’s biggest telecoms operator – became the first service provider in the region to announce the availability of a 5G network, supporting smartphones for commercial use. It was soon followed by the UAE’s second-biggest operator du, Saudi Telecom Company and Bahrain's Batelco.
The Gulf region will have 62 million 5G mobile subscribers by 2026 and they will account for nearly 73 per cent of all mobile subscriptions in the region, according to a report by Swedish company Ericsson.
“This remarkable achievement for the UAE reflects the ongoing efforts of Etisalat and its investments to build one of the most advanced 5G networks in the region,” Hatem Dowidar, chief executive of Etisalat, said on Thursday.
“The deployment of 5G across industries and sectors leads the way to digital transformation in [the] UAE, pushing it to the forefront with a network that is future ready for the next generation of mobile technologies,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cape Town in South Africa had the slowest median download speed over 5G at 53.33Mbps, according to Ookla. Other world capitals with slower median 5G download speeds included Brasilia, Brazil (62.18Mbps); San Juan, Puerto Rico (72.59Mbps); Warsaw, Poland (80.18Mbps) and Singapore (111.20Mbps).
"Mobile operators are rapidly expanding 5G deployments across the globe, with 16,410 new 5G deployments across 109 countries added to the Ookla 5G Map in June 2021 alone," Ookla said in the report. "Huge investments in 5G are being made to increase performance, especially in major cities."
Cities with fastest 5G speed
- Oslo
- Seoul
- Abu Dhabi
- Doha
- Stockholm
- Riyadh
- Kuwait
- Muscat
- Beijing
- Taipei
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Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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